Alright a little back story here, both my brother and I live in Boston (not withstanding his recent move to Dallas), and our father landed here back in the Forties as his first stop in America from Italy. This is why we cheer for both the Red Sox and the Celtics, not the Patriots though, we really don’t care either way about them, though we were hoping for the perfect season personally. First and foremost, kudos to ABC, much better production than TNT could muster, and I loved the announcing team (I would have had to mute the damn thing if they had forced Hubie Brown on me). Second, finally some props where props are due, James Posey is the man, and it’s a travesty and quite frankly disgusting that he didn’t win Sixth Man of the Year (aside here: pick up espn the mag, their odds this issue is hilarious about the current so called sixth man). Ginobli should start, but he sucked so much playing starters minutes he was forced to the bench, he’s a tweener and the worst kind. Posey is a true bench player. He brings energy, tenacity, some of the best defense you can find, and a plus, he can knock down open jumpers with range. He did it for Miami, and we miss him terribly. Look at what can happen to a team when it loses it’s defensive intensity and some open shooters (the other departure being Jason Kapono of course, who also repped himself well by winning the 3 point contest again).
I can’t say enough about Posey and what he brings to any team he’s on so I’ll leave that for later and go on to the Lakers. This is what the West gives us? Honestly, I don’t think anybody else from the West would have fared much better against the Celtics either. I suppose you can call it determination, but this series was never even close, and it was all defense. Only the Spurs play defense anywhere near as good, and I think a point was proven this year: the run and gun West better learn itself some defense because when it hits an Eastern Conference team with tenacious defense, it’s done. Think about it, what really happened to the Mavericks a few seasons back? It wasn’t just Miracle Wade doing his thing, Miami’s defense clamped down, and the Mavs just did not know what to do at all. That defense was nothing compared to what the Celtics showed this series. Kobe Bryant himself looked like a chicken with his head cut off. Whether it was the constant barrage of different defenders, or that all those defenders were playing him perfectly, or a mixture of all that and more, Kobe Bryant never really looked comfortable.
At no point in this series did it look like the Lakers could sustain any of the flashes they were showing, and more than that, those flashes looked more like Celtic mistakes, and lackluster energy at times, especially early on in some of the games. Point in fact, this was really a boring series, thank god for the Pierce hop back, and the magical comeback, because otherwise, ABC would only have history to bank on for something to get us excited about it. It was that bad.
Back to the West though, that daunted West which was supposed to be one of the most exciting post seasons in years. The only excitement I saw out of the West were the Lakers and the Hornets. I really thought the Hornets would beat the Spurs. A Lakers-Hornets Western Conference final would have been far more interesting. I was picking the Lakers from the get go, and after their first round sweep I told my brother for sure, Lakers-Celtics finals, you watch. I was expecting so much more out of the Lakers, but now, I think the Hornets would have presented a much better challenge. Ask all the defensive questions you want though, and speculate as well, just like everyone did when they picked the Lakers. How do you defend Kobe? Won’t Gasol be too much for Perkins or Garnet? Surely the versatile Lamar Odom will spread the bigs? Don’t the Lakers have the much better and deeper bench?
That one right there sickened me from the get go. I was screaming at the tv whenever some “expert” was picking the Lakers bench over the Celtics. Like I said, and we all know now, Posey alone is worth more than the entire Lakers bench. All I heard about were Jordan Farmar, and Sasha Vujacic. Yeah, please. Young shooters who are good for nothing more than a cheap thrill against the laid back defenses of the Western Conference. How about guys like Leon Powe? Not much defensively but a hard worker, great on the offensive boards and had himself a beaut of a game with 21 points and 11 trips to the line. Not enough, add in huge shooting performances from Eddie House and Sam Cassel. Still not enough, give yourself a veteran defender who knows it all and can shoot mid range jumpers in PJ Brown. Finally, don’t forget the show Glen “The Baby” Davis put on in the first couple of rounds. I hope, sincerely, that all of those experts look back on their words and publicly apologize for even suggesting the Lakers bench could come close to the Celtics bench (no such luck as I already hear excuses of age being mentioned).
Anyway, congratulations Boston Celtics, and what a fantastic NBA season it’s been…for anyone but the Heat. It’s looking up though, Wade on the mend, a number 2 pick, the possibility of Shawn Marion returning to a lineup that will, hopefully stay healthy. There’s a lot to look forward too for the Heat and all of us fans. It’s time for me to wander the streets of Boston, but tomorrow expect my full report on who I think the Heat should pick, and why I think it’s ridiculous anyone would suggest the Miami Heat would consider a trade for Wade from the Bulls. Till then, goodnight all, and get ready for next season.
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